Automatic switching mechanism.



l. G. ROBERTS.

AUTOMAT IC SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. I914.

, 1,134,230. g 'PatentedApr.6.1915.

Z SHBETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1

//7 ven for:

W/fnesses:

John 6. Faber/s.

L G.R0BERTSV AUTOMATIC SWITCHING MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE l2, I9I4 3 1,134,230. Pa en ed Apr'.6.1915. I

2 $HBETS-SHEET 2.

, haven/0r? @4260 CZ/flmberfs,

- J WK I AW W/fnesses:

' 1 To dll whom z'tmdy concern ,Dobbs Ferry, in the county 'JoHN GQROBE-Ki s,"OF DOBBSbF BRYQ ivnw xonaassieabad V comrn vxor lvnw r'onxvrx,

e speci fica tion, of LettersIfatent.

A'coRPonATIo'n or ILLINOIS: y

nnroismrlcswrrcmnq MECHANISM:

e ,Paftentea Apnefieis;

.Origi nal'applicatimi and March 10, 1906, Serial m aoazvja. n viaa an-dthisapplicathnfiled 111115 121, I

Be it known that I; JOHN citizen of the [.Tnited' States, g e I e of-Westchester and State of New York have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Automatic Switching Mechanism," of which thefollowing is a full, ,clea'r,eoncise, andiexact description. 1

anism'for automatictelephone exchange Sys 7 tems and is ,a division ofthe invention. de-i which one of the. systems with whichthis switching,echanism is; adapted for use s s ribedand claimed. a i,

V The switching mechanism; of this invih tion is of the type in'which alarge number ,of stationary or passive* terminals arearranged in abanker banks, and movable con [means of continuously} operating; powerftacts called wipers are adapted for move ment'into engagementlwithdifferent, ones of thestationary or passive terminals. "The;

travel of the movable contacts is effected by driven members which arenormally out of active engagement with the. movable element of theswitchingimechanismand which i c are arranged to be brou htlinto active"engagement With the mova lef'elementjof the switching mechanism Ithrough electromag-i netic clutch mechanism; which may be con-,

trolled from a distant point. In'accordance Withthis invention, thesepower driven con-,

I tactsor wipers have movement in two difs 'ferent stages; that is,undercontrol oftwo diflere'nt electromagnetie f clutch devices;

Oneof these devices isadapted to control.

the movement of'Ithe contacts or wipersto I bring them into positionbefore particular I groups of stationaryorpassivewterminals and theother of the ed to control the mo clutch devices is adaptvement ofthewipers to bring them into engagement with particular terminals of theI group before which lthe traveling contacts :had'", previously} been"moved. a I I This invention relatescto switching devices ,up h h ni miwn h oms p ,This inven j F1,gure 1 This. invention relatesjto swltchmgmechv 1914. seriainaseigsea v v .iinitiatedQaHd 'to the stop mecha nismadapt- G1. :ROBERTSAEL. residing a ed to definitely locate "the Imovable contacts at the end of-their, firsthandtheirtsecond I t stagemovements. 1

- i'Theswitch comprises a frame consisting tion is illustrated in theacv 'c'o'mpanying drawings "in which-*- y ,1;

' g is afront View of the switch with, part of the, structureremoved';-and" v 7 side View of the switchiwith othe rtpa'rt'softhestrncture removed. e a v foftwo parallelrods 1 andjtransverseplates scribed in my ,copending applicationgse 2, upon which aremounted, the movable and I stationary switch contactamembersandthemechanism 'foroperating ,the former; The

,"mova'blemembers 3, 4- andj5 are rigidlyse 7 0" s cured to a rod 6 fromwhich; they are insnlated 'bytg insulating sleeves 7. Associated quires,a a. I The movable members g e I e o r i briushes are adapted to bebrought into preferably occurr'ing'first, to bring the move fwith eachofvthe movable members 3, sandy; 5,,area number of stationary or passivetei mina1s'8 which may bearranged in banks Loft en rows, :fourteenterminals in a-i'jowg for f in any othengronping which the character ofthecircnits which are to be controlled" re-,

one vertical and;

able members opposite a particular .row or I group of terminals with oneof. which" the e connection is totbemade, and the' horizontal movementoccur'ring thereafter andfcausing the wipers to sweep overtheterminalsin that particular row orfgroupimtil they are" brought i'ntoconnectionr with a desired tert minalrin the group. I g In accordancewith this invention; 'con- "stantly moving parts are'lemployedjwhlcharel'adapted to be, bronght into active en "gag'ement' with a member Lassociated with therod 6 to effect the vertical andfihorizon- ,tal vmovements of the wipers carriedv by this rod. 3 In the'present instancethe cylinderlor drilm ,'9- is carried 'byand securedfto the :rod ,6 andis adapted-to be y-engaged by two constantly rotating disks 10 'and 11,The disk 10 is adapted to be 'electromagnetically L 1 moved into contactwith "the cylinder or drum 9: .te caus'et the'rod 6 with its associatedswitch memberslto move'vertically,'-while the disk' ,ll[ fs adapted tobe'electromagnetically; I,

contact with any one .of. the fixed orstationar'y terminals fbymove'ments in two stages; 7 the other'horizontal, the verticalmovement lI moved into contact with the 1 cylinder or drumfi? in order to impartrotation to therod l are suitablymounted upon the frame of the 6 andthus cause the horizontal movement of its associated contact'wipers. l

The disks 10 and liars similarly arranged. Each is fulcrumed in the endof itsiassociated lever 12 and 13 respectively, the disk 10 being inengagement with a constantly rotating disk 14 and the disk 11" being inengagement with a constantly r0- tating disk 15; These latter disksarecarried upon the shafts 17 and 18 and are thereby rotated from anysuitable source of power. v, a o

The levers 12 and 13 are fulcrumed upon and concentric with theirassociatedshafts 17 and 18 and each carries onitsend, opposite the endwhich carries the disk, an armature QQ'WlliCh is. in operativerelationwith associated electromagnets 21 and 22, which switch. l l lThe mechanism controlled by the magnet 21 is mounted so that the disk 10rotates in a verticalplane'" just out of contact with the surfaceof thec'ylinder or drum 9, and the mechanism controlled bylthe magnet '22 issof arranged that the disk '11 rotates in a i horizontal plane just outofcontact with the surface of the cylinder or drum 9. The driving disks10 andll are'normally held 7 in :their retracted positions;

' The rod or shaft Gis providedwith a retracting spring 28 which servesfirst through torsion and thenthrough axial expansion to return theswitch members to their normal '1 "resting position, ,In order toprevent the "return 'of the rod 6 as soonv as the driving disks and 11are disengaged from the drum 9, mechanically controlled retaining:

, mechanism is 'provided,-comprising a vertiadapted to engage the teethof'the horizontal "cal retaining ratcheti25, a horizontal retainingratchet 26,,and an electromagnet 27, the armature 28 of which cocperateswith twopavlvls 29 andBO, the second of'which is retaining ratchet26when the magnet is energized to correctly position the wipers before arow. of terminals at the end of the first stage movement, and the firstof which 7 is adapted to engage the teeth of the vertical retainingratchet 25 when the magnet is energized to; correctly position thewipers upon "particular terminals after the second stage movement.-Obviously," the arrangement may be reversed so that the pawls normallyengage their respective ratchets and are withdrawn therefrom when, themagnet energized. Upon withdrawal of the piawlsr 29' and 30 from theirrespective ratchets, the shaft 6 with its movable switchrhembersflreturns to normal under the in- 'jfluence of the spring 23,first in its horizon'talf or rotary movement and then inits verticalmovement.

mal position.

first caused to pass through magnet 21, which responds by attracting itsarmature and bringing disk 10 into contact surface'of the cylinder ordrum 9. Since the disk 10 'orgroup with one of which the connection isdesired. Current is now causedto pass through magnet 22 which respondsby mov-' ing itsjarmature, and its associated rotating disk 11 intocontact with the surface of the cylinder or drum 9, thus imparting r0tationftotheshaft 6 and horizontal movement to its associated brushes.This movementlikewisetakes place at a rate depending upon the rate ofjspeed of'the associated power mechanism. The extent ofthe movement of-the brushes in their horizontal direction depends upon the duration ofthe electric current through the electroinagnet The wipers 3', 4 and 5will be accurately centered upon a particular set of stationaryorl'passive terminals 8 when the riding disk 11 is withdrawn from itsengagement with thedrum 9 byreason of the .factthat the spring 23 willnove the shaft 6 slightly in a reverse direction, until the pawl' 29comes in contact with a particular tooth on the hori-" zontal retainingratchet 26, the teeth and pawl being so positioned that whenthey are inengagement, the set of brushes isv properly positioned upon a particularset of contacts.

7 WVhenthe currentthrough the retaining magnet 2'7 is interrupted, thepawls' 29 and 3'0.arewithdrawn from the horizontal and verticalretaining ratchets and the shaft 6 with its associated wipers returns toits nor- Although this invention is illustrated and described withrespect to certain specific de- 'tails of construction, it isto beunderstood thatthey may be modified without inany this invention. 1 yWhat is claimed is:

a 1. A, switch for. an automatic telephone exchange, comprisingstationary contact "members; and a movable contact member, saidmovableContact member being arranged tohavea verticalmevement and a horizon talmovement, constantly moving means associated with said movable member,but

In the operation of the switch, current is 1 120 waydeparting fronrthespiritor scope of exchange," comprisingf I I II I t onaryCOIItZlClLIIIGIIIbQISgZ'L movable contact 1 normally out of engagementtherewithgdfor T electromagnetic s m v en throw ng said and]electromagnetically tainingsaid movable'inember in plurality of sta'member having a horizontal: and a vertical movement and'having a: drivensurface con nected therewith, aimovabl'e arm,i a friction drivingmember" carried thereon. and a'dapted to bemoved: into1 eng agg-ismentwithi said; surface to cause the vertical movement of a said ,member;means for causing said'i driva me 'e r s at swing said arm"to"bringsaiddriving mem her into engagementwith' said drivenIsur- :face; andelectromagnetically controlled re said movable I I ch it is moved, o 3.A switch for w an' automatic te'lephone exchange, comprising' aplurality of station-, ar'y contact members,andfa movable Contact Imemberf having a horizontaland a vertical: movement, andhaving a drivensurface as-' constantly operating member, in the positionfto intocontact with said, driven surface to; II movable'switch 'tionary contactmembers, a

ing' member to rotate;

taining means for I holding-X w 1 sociated therewith dliving mechanism pt be moved effect the vertical movement of'said member, constantlyoperating driving rmechanism adapted to be movedinto engagement with 1said driven surface to effect the horizontal i movement of said inember,I ed to retain the movable siti'on to "which it isjmoved.

'member the po- 4, Afswitch for an 'automatic 'telephone exchange,comprising a plurality of'stamember having avertical ahorizontalmovement and surface connected; therewith, a

I mechanism associated with each ofsaid drivingmembers and adapted tobring I either one into engagement with said driven surface to effectahorizontal'or'averticalmovement ofsaid movable member.

and? o o o. driven part j'connected; therew1th, a n onstantly operatingvertical driving member .o

5 A switch for "an automatic telephone exchange;

member; adapted forv afvertical ,movement hor zontal movement,- andhaving a a and a 'constantly operating horizontal 'driv ing membernormally out of'enga'gement with said driven part, a lever 'upon whicheach of said drivirig mexiibers is" mounted,

( 3. switch for an ,Qment' of rotation;

ierumediatthe andmeans' adaptmovable contact o movement and having adriven,

constantly moving horizontal} driving member and a "exchange,

. I comprising a plurality of stationary contact members, a movablecontact exchange, I drioally bers,

goautomatic telephone exchange, comprisin'ga pluralityfof cylin-'drically vertical movement and a horizontal move- I a driven cylinderconnected 5 therew th, a driving able switch member, a lever supportingeach and magneticallyactuatedfmeans; fortilt- 1;; bring said drivingmounted stationary contact mem- I movable 'member'arranged to'have a T 1disk foreffecting V, theilvertical movementand a fdriving disk, foreifecting the/horizontal movement of; I said' driven cylinder and itsassociatedomow i offsaid'disks,na constantly-rotatingdisk fulaxisof eachof associated driving disk into engagement with-the 'drivencylinder. a;I

7 switchfor an automatic telephone vertical movement andfa horizontalmove ment ",ofrotation, a driven cylinder "con- "nected' therewith,driving disk for eifect- "ing' the vertical movement and a (driving saidlevers and, nfengagement-o withtheassociated driving 'disk and anelectromagnetforeach' of said: levers; ada'pte'd to: tilt the. same tomove the disk for effecting the horizontal movement memben;

fulcrumedfatthe axis of each ofsaid levers ing disk; tion with of said.driven cylinder? and its associated I a lever supporting feach ofs'aiddisks',a constantlyrotating dis]; j I I and in engagement; withtheassociated'driw o an electromagnet in operative" rela each ofsaidlevers, and adapted'to itilt thelsameito move the associated driving'diskinto engagement .with'th'e driven cylin-;,1o5

derfandjan electromagnetically controlled retaining mechanism'adapted tohold'the ismoved g Sail switch 'forilanautomatic telephone;movable-member inthe position to which it 'i ,1 10 comprising aplurality of. cylin- 7 drically mounted stationaryfcontact termi- In'als, have movement of rotation, a driven cylinder cona movable contactterminalarranged to said cylinder,

effecting the vertical movement of a vertical movement'anda horizontal rY "nected with said movable member, a drivlng disk normally out ofengagement with electromagnetically controlled i I mechanism for movingsaid driving disk p der and its associated movable switch meme her, andmeans for effecting the havea vertical movement and a horizontal]horizontal I movement" of rotation of said 'cylinder and,

, tsa s a dr m i 1i 9QA switch foran automatic telephone" comprising aplurality' ofcylin o mounted stationarycontactimem- I Q movablecontactmemberarranged toi j movement of rotation, a, driven cylinde 553i7 nected with said movable member, 'avdriviii'g disk for effecting theverticaimovement of the cylinder and its associated movable switchmember, a lever upon which said driving disk is supported, a constantlyrotating disk fulcrumed at the aiis of [said lever and having engagementwith said driving disk,'a magnet in operative relation with said leverand adapted to move the same to swing the] driving disk. into engagementwith the driven cylinder, and means for V effecting the horizontalmovementlof rota- 'tion of said cylinder and its associated switchmember. v t

10. A switch for an automatic telephone exchange, comprising a pluralityof cylindrically mounted a stationary "contact members, a movablecontact member arranged to have a vertical movement and a horizontalmovement of rotation, a driven cylinder connected with said movablemember, a driving disk for efiecting the vertical movement, of

the cylinder and its associated movable switch member, a lever uponwhich said driving disk is supported, a constantly rotating disk flcrumed at the airis of said lever and having engagementwithsaid drivingdisk, magnets in operative relation with said lever and adapted to movethe same to swing the driving disk into engagement with the drivencylinder, means for elfe'cting the horizontal movement of rotation'ofsaid cylinder and its associated switch member, and electromagneticretainin mechanism for holding the movable mem er in the position 7members located adjacent said surface, and

electromagnets for selectively causing the operative engagement of saidsurface With any of said powermembers. V

1 8. In a selector, the combination with rows'of stationary terminalsand brushes arranged to traverse said rows, ofa longitudinally movablerod carrying said brushes and carrying a body having a friction surface,a rotatable friction disk adjacent said means,

' and anelectromagnet for causing operative engagement of said meanswith said friction disk. v i n I, 14;, In a switching device, thecombination with terminais arranged in groups, at a in two stages, apair of constantlymoving driving m mbers, an electromagnet for causingthe "operative. relation fof one or said driving mathematics Tsaidcontact member contact member therefor having movement; f V

to move a inits' fi'r'st stage, and i i electromagnet for causing the 1operative relb. Ina device,tlie combii 'ation wahstauonar terminals, ata movable contact member, a friction' member movable with saidcdtactmember, a constantly 'roj 'tating friction member, and electromagneticmeans for-bringing said frictionmembersf intdleiigagement to saidcdiltttct member to a particular setof. stationary termi- 16: Inautomatic switch, a grou cf statitnary ter inals, brush, a, support forsaid brhs for moving said support to cause said brush'to traversesaidtermirials, said means com is ng a rotatable friction disk thereon,a

PGW fii at cooperating friction elementcn said sup.- ort, and anelectrcinagnet i rca ing he operative engagement of said friction diskwith said mprinting element. V

17. In a switchingdevic e, th'ecombination with apluralitypf grmps ofterminals,yof contact member adapted ftie gagement with o f th'eterminals of said groups,

means tc move said contactpas't eas s mechanism r t mcvliig e agem'entwith partlcular terminals of a groups as terminal potter an es frictiongroup, and top mechanism for accurately centeringsaid contactsuponparticular terminals when the power dr ven friction mechanism isnactive.

l8. switching device, the combination with a plurality of groups ofstationary t'er init als, of a movablecontalct', member adaptedfermentationwith individual terminals of said groups, power drivenfriction mech- 'ani'sm for moving said; contact to particular groups ofterinmals, stop niec'hamsmto accuiately center the movable contactmember before a particular group of terminals, and means to move sa dcontact into engagement with particular terminals of the group to iwhich said contact was mcve'dby said power I driver; friction device.

19. In awswitching device, the combinaterminals, of a contact tion with,gras i n V aclaptedto be m cvea inmate stages, first to pick out a groupand then to 'pickout a particular terminal iifi'tll group, power drivenfriction mechanism for moving said contact in each of its stagsgstopmechanism for, accurately locating said contact a'tqthe end of the firststage movement thereof, and

dfc'ontact iiitO ea-.

rlaiidn w e ot a dr v ng members i with said contact member to" move; itin its second stage; a y l -V stop mechanism for accurately locatingsaid j contact at the endof the secondst'age movei ment thereof, 7 a

20. In a switching" device, the-combination with groups of 7 terminals,I of a contact rollers, j electromagnetic means for associating one ofsaid frictlon rollers With said contact "device to move the: latter to aparticular group of terminals; :3 additional electromagnetic'means forasso iWitne'sses:

' ciating the other of said friction rollers'rvith said contact devicetomove the'lattertoa particular terminal in the group, and means 15 tomaintain said-contact in connection With said particular terminal afterthe disengage:

ment of said friction rollers. V

In witness-whereof, I hereunto subscribe niynamethis 9th dag of'June A.D. 1914.

' J HN ROBERTS;

IR. OLSON," K.L.sTAH f coplel 01 this patent my be obtained for In cent!each, by addressing the f Commissioner not Patenh,

I, e' ,7 wgfl lngtomncflf v V V

